Laundry machine pump



Jan. 31, 1961 J. F. CLEARMAN LAUNDRY MACHINE PUMP Filed May 31, w56

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 MIU" will

fille Hilf.

INVENTOR. I'Z JACK F. CLEARMAN f 1 "T`To RNEYS Jan. 31, 1961 J. F.CLEARMAN LAUNDRY MACHINE PUMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1956INVENTOR. JACK F. CLEAR MAN A TORNEYS Jan. 31, 1961 J. F. CLEARMAN2,969,739

LAUNDRY MACHINE PUMP Filed May 3l, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JACKF. CLEARMAN A TO RNEYS Jan. 31, 1961 J. F. CLEARMAN 2,969,739

LAUNDRY MACHINE PUMP Filed May 5l. 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E11-V 74 GO 87esk 7e 58 //7 m 9G as 64 G9a 64 6| 67 77 97 /lol 73 78 93 no f so rr e76G E a7 e4 9G a6 B se s4 96 as 97 64 I gael' 6| l/ G7 99 84 @esl no 996|\ 7o 84 l" l f I l f s3 98 k I 7'/ D c A 9o gg 65 8O 8O 65 90 88 HEL?[iJ J INI/ENTOR.

JACK F. CLEARMAN A TORNEYS return system.

United States Patent O M 2,969,739 LAUNDRY MACHINE PUMP Jack F.Clear-man, St. Joseph,`Mcl 1., assignmto Whirlpool Corporation, acorporation of Delaware Filed vMay 3 1, i1956 ser. 1%. 588,; 85

l13) claims. (cl. 10373) This invention relates generally to laundrymachines and'more particularly to a so-called suds-'returri-type laundrymachine which is particularly characterized by the utilization ofmechanical pumping means which are unidirectional in operation andflow-reversing means which may be automatically operated -in correlationwith a sequential series of washing, rinsing and extracting periods toautomatically remove or return laundry liquid from or to a treatmentZone, respectively. According to the general principles of the presentinvention, a batch of materialsy to Abe laundered in a treatment zone iscyclically manipulated through a' series of washing, rinsing andextracting periods by the operation of a combination washing andextracting laundrymachine having a presettable sequential control means.A unidirectional pump under the' control of the sequential control meansis 'selectively operated at different portions of the washing, rinsingand extracting periods, while the inlet and outlet -ow of theunidirectional pump isalternately reversed tosupply andl remove a pooloflaundry liquid to and from'V the treatment zone, Nas reqiiir'd to effectproper correlation with the washing, rinsing and extracting Yaction ofthe machine;

More specifically, it is contemplated according to the present inventionto provide anV improved pumpfof what generally known as the centrifugaltype, having flow-4 reversing means integrated therewith wherein agenerally 4toroidal pumping chamber having a unidirectionally o perat'edrotary duid-displacement means for imparting pressure and kinetic energyto the iluid, has the flow characteristics thereof controlled bymovablemeans forming together with the pump casing alternately Vshiftableaxially adjacent inlet and outlet zones in a confined area Sevithin thepumping chamber circumjacent the rotary `iluid displacement means.

Thus, the uid is pumped ina connedannular pumping zone and inlet fluidis supplied to a conned area adjacent one side face of the impeller.Outlet uid is discharged at a confined outlet area adjacent the opposite.side `face of the impeller and the inlet and outlet' areas orlzones areselectively and'alternately shifted to change the direction of flowthrough the inlet and outlet port liineans of the pump withoutchangingthe direction of ,rotation of the'impeller. i i

l Itis an object of the present invention, therefore, to -provide alaundry machinefhaving an improved suds Yet anothertobject of thepresent invention isto provide a unitary pump Yand valving ,arrangementWhereinfa @reversal of fluid ow can be effected without changing thedirection of rotationof the pump impeller.

v A further object of the present invention is .toprovide a Pump .havingintegral Haw-rsvfsglgieals incorporated therein of a simplifiedconstruction.

Another object of the present Yinvention is toprovide a structure which`permits .a change inthe direction of .pumping vwithout changing theVflow pattern in the pump. Another object of .thepresent invention iS tProvide a centrifugal pump having meansforming inlet and outlet `zonesadjacentopposite .sides of opposite Side faces ofthe ,centrifugal pump`impeller .witha movablev hutterly Y,valve .alternatelyshifting theinletand outletzonesitochange .thedirectionof Atlowf thepumpwithoutchanging the direction of rotation oflhejmpelle.

2,969,739 Paises@ Jee el? i! Many other features, advantages andadditional objects of `vthe vpresent invention will become( manifest tothose versed in the art upon making reference to the detaileddescription which yfollows yand the raccompanying sheets drawings Ainwhich a preferred structural :embodiment o f a laundry machine isillustrated by way of exemplification of .the principles of the presentinvention. i

This application is a continuationy in partbf my eopending application534,195 Vfiled September 14,"j l9 `5.

"On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating Ithe ,plumbing`environment of a .laundry machine embodying'theprinciples of thepresent inventohi s v v 'Figure 2 is an elevational view ,of a ,laundryapparatus with'part's' broken away and `partsshown in cross-secfftin,anni-laringe laundry machine embodying a pump ywith Howreversing ,meansaccording to'the present invention Yand capable of practicing themethods disclosed herein; Figure 3 isa plan View of the gearcaselembodied in the laundry apparatus of Figure l and illustrating howthe pump o f the present invention is incorporated inthe laundrymachine; l

y Figure 4 'is an elevational view of the pump provided inacc'ordancewith the principles of the present invention;

Figure 5 is .a View Ofi-1.1 Pump Qf Figure 4 .with the v over memberremoved and taken generallyon line.V- ',V

i Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View of the ,pump of Figures {land 5taken generally on the vrline VI--VI of Figure 5 but with parts shown inelevation and `with other parts repositioned lfor purposes of clarity;and

Figures 7 Aand 8 are fragmentary cross-sectional views taken generallylon the line VII-VII of AFigure' ,6'and illustrating details ofconstruction of the flow-reversing means, Figure 7 indicating o neposition of `adjustment of ,the flow-reversing means andFigure ,8lindicating a second position of adjustment whereby the yow through theporting means of the pump is reversed.

As shown on the drawings:

It will be understood thatthe principles of the present invention areofgeneral vapplicability towashinginachines per se, aswell as tocombinationwashers and Vextractors or to combinationwasher-extractor-driers. ,-Moreover, insofar Aas the pump subcombinationis concerned, it will be Vvfurther appreciated'that 4the principles ofthe present invention are of general applicability'to any -uidsystemwherein `avspump exhibitingV the'desirable properties disclosed thereinis required.

For purposes of illustrating the principles of the presvent invention,-howeverythere is shown 'in Figures 1 and 2 an automatic washing,rinsing and extracting machine 1,0 having a cabinet ..151 forming anenclosure for a'tub l12 which is adapted to conne a po'ol of liquidsuchas water or laundry liquid, thereby yrestricting the pool 'f laundryliquid withinrthe contines of a treatment zone.

A receptacle or container indicated at `14, isv rotatably mounted withinthe tub 12 and the .tub ,12 is carried on a floating base .16 suspendedfrom the ktop portion .of .the c abineton atltheir ends and ,carried ina corresponding ,pluralityof sockets E19 inthebase 1 6 and insimilarsocletsat ythe npperpart of the cabinet (not shown) for ,dampingos cillatable movement which may `occur betweeiifthe base and`thecabinet'.` Suspentled from thebase 1 6 `on a hanger bracketlisanevlectricmotor Zlwhich operates as the .drive m 'iir for themachine. A power ,take-off shaft xindi-cat?"din `Figure -3 at 2 2 drivesa motor pulley 1ZSifornfing aicol- 'portent' of afpulley system referredto rin greater etail hereinafter for `driving" th'erptataljle"'compientsof vthe .ilzundry.ma.h,ine; V n, 51; A'gear casing is indicated at 24through which an suspension links .17 encased in ru'bber oscillatabledrive mechanism actuates an independently operable washing element oragitator 26 located interiorly of the container or receptacle 14, and,hence, interiorly also of the tub 12. Y

The gear casing 24 is also suspended from the base 16 and is positionedin xed parallel spaced relation with respect to the base 16. Althoughnot necessary to a proper understanding of the principles of the presentinvention, it may be noted that the gear casing 24 is of a formutilizing two parts, a lower part housing an oscillatable drive gearingfor oscillatably driving the washing element or agitator 26 and an upperpart housing operating and control mechanism of the machine.

With respect to the actuation of the washing element or agitator 26,however, there is shown an oscillatable drive shaft at 29 rotatablycarried in the gear casing 24 in a boss at the lower part of the gearingcasing 24. The shaft 29 is also journaled within a rotatable drivesleeve 30 concentrically disposed Within a stationary sleeve 31 andinwardly with respect to a hollow center post 32. The hollow center post32 forms a closure for the central part of the bottom of the tub 12 andextends upwardly from the bottom of the tub 12.

The sleeve 31 is carried in the hollow center post 32. The rotatablesleeve 30 provides a support for a hollow upright support member 33attached in rm assembly with the container or receptacle 14. Thus, thecontainer or receptacle 14 is supported near its upper end for spinning.The washing element or agitator 26 is locked to the upper end of theshaft 29 as at 34 and will be oscillatably driven upon correspondingoscillatable move- .ment of the shaft 29.

The rotatable Sleeve 30 is driven by a drive sheave 36 or spin pulley,as it may be referred to herein, mounted on the lower portion of thesleeve 30 through a clutch of the friction-disk-type, the clutch beingcontrolled by suitable actuating mechanism well known to those versed inthe art.

A driving belt 38 (Figure 3) is trained over the pulley 23 of the drivemotor 21 and over the sheave or pulley 36 operatively connected to theshaft 29, thereby to rotate the container or receptacle 14 at a speedsuitable for extracting liquid from clothes contained therein uponactuation of the clutch mechanism.

The belt 38 is also trained over a drive pulley 40 which constitutes themain drive pulley of the machine and which is fastened to a shaft 41(Figure 3) extending -out of the oscillatable drive mechanism housedwithin the gear casing 24. It will be understood that the shaft 29 willbe oscillatably driven by the motor 21 through the oscillating mechanismand a detailed description of the driving mechanism does not appear tobe-necessary to a proper explanation of the present invention.

It will be understood that the washing machine is provided with asequential controller for automatic operation of the machine through aseries of washing, rinsing and extraction periods. The sequentialcontroller is particularly characterized by the utilization of pre-,settable means to selectively and automatically actuate the drivingmeans of the machine through a selected programming schedule. Theactuating element or presettable means of the sequential controller isindicated on Figure 1 by the reference numeral 42. A water ternperatureselection means is indicated at 43. Hot and cold water from the usualdomestic supply is furnished to the machine and the details of suchmechanism will not be described herein as such details are not necessaryto an understanding of the present invention. The electrical componentsof the machine are energized from the usual domestic outlet indicated at44 through a conductor wire indicated at 46 (Figure 2).

As shown in Figure 1, the machine 10 is shown in proximity to a laundrytub or receptacle 47 particularly adapted to operate as a laundry liquidstorage means or suds storage reservoir. The tub 12 has an outlet 48(Figure 2) to which is connected a conduit 49 leading to the pump of thepresent invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. Asecond conduit 51 leads from the pump 50 to a two-way valve 52 (Figurel). From the two-way valve 52 leads a first conduit 53 having its enddisposed Within the receptacle 47. A second conduit 54 is connected tothe two-way valve 52 and leads to drain. With a conventional typelaundry stand, this arrangement is conveniently effected by keeping astopper S in the compartment of the receptacle 47 to be used as a liquidreservoir and by leading the conduit 54 into the other compartmentdirectly open to the drain indicated at D.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, it iscontemplated that upon the completion of the washing cycle, the laundryliquid maintained as a pool of laundry liquid within the tub 12 will bedrained out of the tub 12 and temporarily stored in the receptacle 47.Thereafter, the rinsing and extracting procedures can be carried out inthe laundry machine 16. The stored laundry liquid is then available forfurther use in washing additional batches of materials to be launderedand is returned to the tub 12 by the pump S0.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, the mechanical dispositionof the pump on the laundry machine 10 is illustrated in greater detail.The pump 50 is attached to the gear casing 24 by means of bolts 56-56which pass through the apertured legs 57-57 formed on the main casing orhousing 58 of the pump 50. A shaft 59 journaled in the housing SS of thepump S0 carries on the end thereof a pulley 60 over which is threadedthe drive belt 38. Accordingly, whenever the motor 21 is operated, thepulley 60 and the shaft 59 will be unidirectionally rotated.

The pump 50 comprises the casing 58 which includes more specifically abody member 66 and a cover member 65. Formed within the body member 66is a generally toroidal-shaped pumping chamber 61 which has an open side62 anged as at 63, the opposite side of the toroidal pumping chamber 61being bounded by generally radially extending wall means indicated at64.

The wall means 64 at one side of the toroidal pumping chamber 61 isparticularly characterized by the formation thereon of a centrallydisposed boss 67 which is formed as a bearing boss and which is bored asat 68 to receive yand seat a bearing member 69a flanged to overlie aportion of the boss 67 extending outwardly of the body member 66. Thebearing member 69a journals the shaft 59 for rotation. .p

The shaft 59 extends through Va portion of -the boss 6 protrudinginwardly into the pumping chamber 61 and carries in rm assembly on theend thereof an impeller 69 having a hub 69a. Extending generallyradially outwardly from the hub of the impeller 69 are a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced vanes or blades 70 having a root diameterindicated at 71 approximately the same as the diameter of the inwardlyextending portion of the boss 67. Accordingly, the blades 70 projectinto the toroidal-shaped pumping chamber 61 and operate yas a rotaryfluid displacement means to impart pressure and kinetic energy to theuid within the chamber 61 upon rotation of the shaft 59. p I

The boss 67 is counterbored as at 72 and receives thereon a press-fittedseal face 117, graphite Washers 118 and a resilient annulus 73 foreffecting a seal along the length of the shaft 59.

The outside end of the shaft 59 is threaded as at 74 thereby to effect athreaded assembly with the pulley wheel 60. The impeller subassembly isthus retained in firm assembly with the body member 66.

A recess 76 is formed in the boss 67 adjacent the bearing 69 and forms alubricant reservoir which may be packed with a suitablelubricant-impregnated material thereby to maintain a supply of lubricantin communication with the bearing surfaces. J

Upon vreferring to Figure 6, -it will be noted that the impeller has afirst side face 77 which lies adjacent an adjoining end `face 78 of theboss 67. The opposite side face of the impeller is indicated at 79 andlies in generally co-planar relation to the surface provided by theiiange 63 on the body member 66.

The cover member 65 includes a substantially flat plate portion whichoverlies the flange 63. Suitable fastening means are provided betweenthe body member -66 and the cover member 65 to place the components inAirm assembly with one another to form the casing structure. -I-n thisembodiment, a sealing gasket 80 is interposed between the flange 63 andthe cover member 65 land a VVplurality of screws 81 engage suitablythreaded apertures 82 formed in the vflange 63. The cover mem- `ber 65provides `an inside -face 83 which is closely spaced to the side face 79'of the impeller.

YReferring specifically to Figure 5 in connection with Figure 6, it willbe noted that the pumping chamber '61 is provided with a flow controlarea indicated at 84 which Alies radially outwardly the boss 67 and isdisposed in a conned area circumjacent the pumping vanes '70 of theimpeller. More specifically, the body member l66 of the casing 5Sincludes a boss portion which is recessed to provide the iiow controlarea `84 as a hollow space 'generally rectangular as seen in #Figure 5.Means 'for Vconducting fluid to and from the flow control zone 'or areaS4 are provided. According to the present invention, the wall means 64on the body member 61 is particularly characterized by the formationtherein o f aport or an opening `86 (Figures v6-8). The port or 'opening85, of course, is on the side of the pump corresponding to the side face"7,7 on theimpeller. An angled Aconduit portion 87 leads away from theopening 86 and can be utilized for effecting conduit connections to thepump, for example, to the conduit 49, as shown in Figure 2.

The cover member 65 is also `characterized by the lformation of a portor an openingSS therein which port or opening lies adjacent the blades70 of the impeller .and on the side of the pump corresponding to theside `face 79 of the impeller. The ports or openings 86 and 8S arecoaxially disposed on opposite sides of the toroidal .pumping chamber 61and on opposite sides of the ow control area or zone 84.

A conduit member 89 is affixed to lthe cover member 65 as by weldingindicated -at 90, thereby to facilitate .uid connection of the opening88 with conduit means,

for example, the conduit '51, as shown in Figure 2.

According to the principles of the present invention, aow control meansis provided which conveniently comprises a movable or shiftable lvalveplate or baffle indicated generally at 91 which is employed to partition.the ow control area S4 into contiguous inlet and outlet zones and whichmay be selectively and alternately shifted with respect to the flowcontrol openings 86 and 88, .thereby to reverse the ow of fluid throughthe ports or :openings 86 and SS without reversing the rotational di-:rection of thecentrifugal impeller.

vThe movable partition means provided by the valve plate 91 morespecifically comprises a butterfly valve .carried on a pivot pin .'92having one end journaled as .at 93 in the boss 67 and having theopposite end extending .through a wall portion 93 formed on the bodymember 66 'apertured as at 94 to provide a bearing for journaling thevpivot pin v92 and counterbored as at 96 to receive `a seal member 97for establishingfa shaft seal between the casing and the pivot pin 92.

,It will be noted that the axis ofthe vpivot pin 92 and the rotationalaxis of the impeller, as determined .by the ."shaft 59, are at rightangles .to one another. VSince'the shaft59 andthe pivot pin @92 areangularly offset with "'respect to'one another on intersecting axes, itis possible -to locate the pivot pin 92 in an area adjacent the side"ifaee'f 77" of the impeller. Thus;the-.butteryvalve 91 isl-flange'99-seats against 2the-shoulderr97 land a partitionis 6 pivotally adjusted.on the Apivot `pin 92 .to .control the flow of iluid between the.openings 86 .and 88 and in so doing the buttery valve 91 providesbaflie portions which lie closely adjacent .to the side face 77 of theimpeller .as well as the peripheral tips of the blades 7.0. In otherwords, the butterliy valve forms a Apartitioning means which extendsacross .the control area ,or zone 84 between the wall means .64 and .thecover member l65 to partition the control area .84 into .selectivelyshiftable continguous inlet and outlet zones.

Referring particularly to Figures 7 and 8, it will 'be noted that thebody member 66 has a pair of vshoulders 96 and 97 .disposed on angularlyintersecting planes on opposite sides of the pivot axis establishedbythe pivot pin 92. The shoulders 96 and 97 are spaced apart from oneanother and diverge away from :the opening 18,6 :in

.the .wall :means 64. The shoulders :96 and 97 vblend into the pumping,chamber 61 and form valve seats lfor il ange 98 and a iiange '99Yprovided on the butterliy.

As is most clearly shown in Figure 5, ,the flange 19,8 is recessed as at100, thereby leaving a flange extension 101 which provides an edge 102lying closely adjacent to the peripheral edges ofthe blades 70. The4recessed portion ofthe flange '98 provides another edge which i liesclosely adjacent the side face 77 of the impeller and .specificallyclosely adjacent the edges of the vanes 70,

as shown in Figure 5. The ange l extension 101 can also be ,positionedclosely adjacent thecover member65. In like manner, the `iiange `99 isrecessed as at 103,

Vthereby leaving a flange extension 410.4 andproviding vbe `made ,as astamping, a casting or as a moldedlarticle,

only one exemplary Vform of construction is illustrated hereinwherein'the valve plate 9.1 is made as a ymetal member having a pair ofembossments receiving the pivot pin 92 in assembly therewith. `The endof the pivot pin 92 is ,slotted as at 121 and `engages an offsetembossed portion of the valve plate-91ito insure corotatability betweenthe pivot pin 9.2 andthe valve 91.

Inoperation, ythe impelleris unidirectionally rotated in Vthedirectionof-the arrow A (Figures 7 and '8). :Biasing means comprisingatorsion spring 111 is provided in operatively connectedrelation betweenthe pivotpi-n 92 and the casing body member .66;inorder to continuouslybias the buttery valveiz91 -towards .aiirst position of adjustmentindicated in Figure 7. Thus, theflange V98 is seated againstthe4shoulder 96, while the iiange 99, together with the ange extension1,04, closelyem- `braces the vanes or blades-70 of the impeller. @Thebutfterfly valve 91together with the casing `formsseparated inlet andoutlet zones between the openings 86 `and; 88. For example, as shown inFigure 7, wherein the butteryiiy valve is` positioned to partition theflow controly area orzone .84 crosswise from the cover member65 tothewall means 64, then the opening 86 functions as an inlet opening andfluid will be directed as indicatedfby. arrow B into the pumping chamber61 andimpelled by the vanes '70 of the impeller ,to the other sideI ofthe baiiie formed by the butterfly valve 91, namely, that yportion ofthe flow control area 84 which functions as an outlet zoney in theposition of adjustment' of Figure' Ii7. The arrow indicated at C depictsthe flow ofuid out of the pumping chamber 61 and through the'ope'ning 08which functions as an outlet opening. Y w

VIf it is desiredl to reverse the iow without reversing the direction ofrotation of the impeller, the'vbutteriiy valve 91 is shifted to the-position shown in FiguifeS,

lwhereupon Vthe respective zones will belalternlated or selectivelyshifted. kI nl this position ofadjustrne'ri't formed across the flowcontrol area or zone 84 which extends from the wall means 64 to thecover member 65 in crosswise direction. In this position of adjustment,the opening 88 functions as an inlet opening and fluid will be directedas indicated by the arrow D through the inlet opening 88 and into thepumping chamber 61, Vwhereupon the fluid will be impelled by the vane 70of the impeller and discharged as indicated by the arrow E past theopposite side of the butterily valve 91 and out through the opening 86,now functioning as an outlet opening.

Although it would be possible to manually position the butterfly valve91, the pivot pin 92 is provided with a control portion 11'2 outside ofthe casing 58 by means of which the valve may be automatically operatedin accordance with the requirements of the automatic washing machinewith which the pump assembly is associated. Thus there is showndiagrammatically in Figure 3 a mechanical linkage 113 connected to theactuating portion 112 and motivated by an electric motor indicated at Mand including, by way of illustrative example, a solenoid winding 114and a core 116. It will be understood that the electric motor orsolenoid M is associated with the necessary electrical circuitryaffording actuation as a part of the programing schedule selected on theactuator 42 of the sequential control means. In operation, the pump 50is selectively operated unidirectionally under the control of sequentialcontroller 42 at ditlerent portions of the washing, rinsing andextracting periods, While the inlet and outlet ilow through the openings86 and 8S are alternately reversed through operation of the butterflyvalve 91, thereby to supply and remove a pool of laundry liquid to andfrom the treatment zone as required for the washing, rinsing andextracting periods of `the machine operation.

Since the pump has an inlet area and an outlet area with a rotaryimpeller arranged to move fluid through two separate paths between theinlet and the outlet areas, it will be appreciated that in operation thevalve 91 functions as a diverter means or as a shiftable wall membermovable between two positions of adjustment to alternately connectoppositely extending portions of a fluid circuit with the inlet andoutlet areas.

Although various minor structural modifications might be suggested bythose versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embodywithin the scope of 'the patent warranted hereon, all such modificationsas .reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution tothe art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A pump comprising a rotatable impeller having a hub portion and aplurality of circumferentially spaced radially outwardly extendingvanes, a casing having bearing means for journaling said hub portion andproviding an annular pumping chamber in which said vanes are rotated, apair of coaxially disposed ports formed in said casing on opposite sidesof said annular pumping chamber generally parallel to the impeller axisand transversely of the plane of rotation of said impeller, reversibleilow control means for selectively reversing the drection of ilowthrough said ports including a valve plate movably positioned crosswisein said chamber between said ports and pivotally displaceable on an axisintersecting the rotational axis of said impeller and the axis of saidports, continuous biasing means operatively disposed between said casingand said valve plate normally biasing said valve plate into a lirstposition extending crosswise across said pumping chamber wherein saidvalve plate together with said casing forms an inlet passage for saidpumping chamber adjacent one of said ports and an outlet passageadjacent said other port, and actuating means operatively connected toand moving said valve plate against said continuous biasing means ,to asecond crosswise position wherein said valve plate together with saidcasing forms an inlet passage for said pumping chamber adjacent saidother port and an outlet passage adjacent said iirst port, thereby toreverse the direction of llow of the pumped fluid without reversing thedirection of rotation of said pump impeller.

2. In a pump, an impeller, a casing journalling said impeller forrotation on an axis and having two coaxially disposed axially spacedapart ports on opposite sides of said impeller and being spaced radiallyoutwardly of said rotational axis and generally parallel thereto, saidcasing having a pumping chamber formed therein in which said impeller isrotated and having a portion thereof extending radially between saidports whereby the ports are transverse to the plane of rotation of theimpeller, and a movable baille pivotally mounted in said casing andcrosswise positioned in said pumping chamber between said ports toselectively interconnect said ports and said pumping cavity in alternateinlet and outlet relation.

3. A pump comprising a casing having a generally toroidal pumpingchamber, a pair of ports formed in tirst and second walls of said casingon axially opposite sides of said chamber generally parallel to thechamber axis, rotor impeller means iu said chamber providing an annularrow of circumferentially spaced blades rotatable in said chamber toimpel fluid from one of said ports to the other of said ports, a movablepartition member in said chamber separating said ports from one another,and actuating means connected to said partition member and selectivelymoving said partition member between iirst and second crosswisepositions between said ports wherein said ports selectively andalternately function as inlet and outlet ports for the pump withoutrequiring a change in the direction of rotation of the rotary impellermeans.

4. A pump comprising a casing having a generally toroidal pumpingchamber, a centrally disposed boss extending axially into said chamberand having bearing means formed therein, rotary iluid displacement meansjournaled in said bearing means and rotatable in said pumping chamber, aconfined ilow control area formed in said chamber radially outwardly ofsaid boss and having an opening formed therein on each of opposite sidesof said rotary lluid displacement means, said openings being coaxial andparallel to the pump rotational axis -and transverse to the plane ofrotation of the uid displacement means and a movable valve platepositioned crosswise between said openings in said ilow control areapartitioning said area into contiguous inlet and outlet zones, and meansconnected to said movable valve plate for shifting said plate to asecond crosswise position between said openings to reverse the ilow offluid through said openings without reversing the direction of rotationof said rotary iluid displacement means.

5. A pump comprising a casing having a generally toroidal pumpingchamber, a centrally disposed boss extending axially into said chamberand having bearing means formed therein, rotary fluid displacement meansjournaled in said bearing means and rotatable in said pumping chamber, aconfined ilow control area formed in said chamber radially outwardly ofsaid boss and having an opening formed therein on each of opposite sidesof said rotary iluid displacement means, said openings being axiallyaligned parallel to the rotational axis and transverse to the rotationalplane of the iluid displacement means, a butterfly valve in said flowcontrol area having closure portions on opposite sides of a pivot axis,and means mounting said valve for pivotal movement between two crosswiseextending positions between said openings wherein said valve partitionsthe control area into inlet and outlet zones, and means connected to andshifting said valve to said positions with respect to said openings forreversing the flow of iluid through said openings.

6. A pump comprising a casing having a body member and a cover member,said body member having a generally toroidal pumping chamber formedtherein eX- tending circumferentially around a centrally disposedapertured bearing boss, one side of said chamber being open and theother side being formed by a generally radially extending wall means, afirst ow opening formed in said wall means radially outwardly of saidboss, a rotatable impeller having a hub journaled in said bearing bossand a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially outwardly extendingblades movable through said pumping chamber, said cover member beingassembled across said one side of said body member to form a radiallyextending wall means for the pumping chamber spaced from said irstradially extending wall means and having a second flow control openingformed therein oppositely disposed from and axially aligned with saidrst flow control opening, a butterfly valve having a pivot pin providinga pivot axis extending normally to the axis of rotation of said impellerand having closure portions disposed on opposite sides of said pivotaxis, pivot means supported in said boss and in said casing outwardly ofthe pumping chamber for pivotally mounting said butterfly valve in anarea of said pumping chamber between said first and second ow openings,said buttery valve having a body portion extending adjacent said bladesand marginal edge portions on opposite ends of said body portionangularly oiset in the direction of said blades and recessed to providea baille extending radially outwardly of said blades lying closelyadjacent the peripheral and side face portions of the blades andcrosswise between said ow control openings, thereby to partition thearea between said openings as alternate inlet and outlet zones withrespect to said pumping chamber, continuous biasing means disposed onsaid pivot pin and normally maintaining said butterfly valve in onecrosswise position between said openings to eiect ow in one directionthrough said openings, and means connected to and selectively shiftingsaid butterfly Valve to a second crosswise position between saidopenings wherein the direction of flow is reversed.

7. A pump having a generally toroidal pumping chamber, rotary iluiddisplacement means in said chamber for impelling uid, said chamberhaving inlet and outlet ports coaxially aligned with respect to oneanother at the periphery of said chamber and being parallel with therotational axis of said rotary uid displacement means and transverse tothe plane of rotation thereof, and a movable baie plate selectivelypositioned crosswise between said ports, and means shifting said balefrom one crosswise position to an opposite crosswise position tointerconnect said ports and said pumping chamber in alternate inlet andoutlet relation.

8. A reversible flow unidirectional pump comprising a housing having apumping cavity, a rotatable centrifugal impeller in said cavity, inletand outlet ports in said housing communicating with said cavity andbeing coaxially aligned with one another at the periphery of the cavityin parallel disposition relative to the axis of rotation of saidimpeller and transverse to the plane of rotation of said impeller, and amovable valve in said housing selectively crosswise positionable betweensaid ports in iirst and second positions and interconnecting said portsand said pumping cavity in alternate inlet and outlet relation.

9. A pump comprising a housing having a pumping cavity, a rotatableimpeller means in said cavity, coaxially aligned inlet and outlet portsin said housing at the periphery of said pumping cavity and disposedparallel relative to the axis of rotation and transverse to the plane ofrotation of said impeller means, a valve plate in said housing having apivot pin providing an intermediate pivot axis and closure portions onopposite sides of said axis and being crosswise positioned between saidports, continuous biasing means disposed on said pivot pin and normallymaintaining said valve in one crosswise position between said ports toeffect ow in one direction through said ports, and means connectedto andselectively moving said valve to a second crosswise position betweensaid ports and effecting flow in an opposite direction through saidports.

10. A pump comprising a housing having a pumping cavity, rotatableimpeller means in said cavity, coaxially aligned inlet and outlet portsin said housing at the periphery of said pumping cavity and disposedparallel re1- ative to the axis of rotation and transverse to the planeof rotation of said impeller means, a valve plate in said housing havingan intermediate pivot axis and closure portions on opposite sides ofsaid axis and being crosswise positioned between said ports, continuousbiasing means operatively disposed between said valve plate and normallymaintaining said valve plate in one crosswise position between saidports to effect ow in one direction through said ports, and meansconnected to and selectively moving said valve plate to a secondcrosswise position between said ports effecting flow in an oppositedirection through said ports, said valve plate having marginal edgeportions on opposite sides of said pivot axis and being angulary otsetto engage adjoining wall por' tions of said housing.

11. A pump comprising, a pump casing including rst and second generallyparallel walls, an impeller revolubly positioned within said casingbetween and on an axisy intersecting said lirst and second walls, afirst port in said rst wall, a second port in said second wall coaxialwith said rst port, the axis of said ports being parallel to and spacedfrom the axis of said impeller, means for rotating said impeller to pumpfluids through said ports and said casing, a valve member positionedwithin said easing adjacent a radially outward portion of said impellerand pivoted on an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of saidimpeller, said valve member having opposite ends movable to positions-adjacent opposite sides of said second port upon pivotal movement ofsaid valvemember, and means operatively connected to and moving saidvalve member to selectively provide either of two directions of fluidflow through said ports during unidirectional rotation of said impeller.

12. The invention set forth in claim 11 in which said valve memberincludes anges engageable with said casing to limit movement of saidopposite ends relative to said second port.

13. A pump comprising, a casing having an annular conned pumping zoneformed therein, rotary iluid displacement means in said pumping zonehaving opposite side face portions, means in said casing forming axiallyaligned inlet and outlet zones adjacent opposite sides of said oppositeside faces of said rotary fluid displacement means and parallel to therotational axis of said rotary iluid displacement means, and a movablebaffle crosswise positioned in a first position between said inlet andsaid outlet zone and actuating means connected to said bafe and movingsaid baie to a second crosswise position between said inlet and saidoutlet zones to change the direction of ow of said pump without changingthe direction of rotation of said rotary iiud displacement means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 36,526Plumb Sept. 23, 1-862 1,548,247 Bennett Aug. 4, 1925 2,555,686 Farrellyet al. June 5, 1951 2,642,085 Geldhof et al. June 16, 1953 2,764,096Engstrom Sept. 25, 1956 2,808,780 Hoekstra Oct. 8, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS17,471 Great Britain June 17, 1915 190,492 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1937329,629 Germany 1 Nov. 26, 1920

